Are Oregon Marriage Records Public?
No. Marriage records in Oregon are legally sealed for 50 years after the events are recorded. During this period, these records remain confidential but accessible to the parties named on them. Copies of marriage certificates can also be accessed or requested by immediate family members and attorneys of the parties named on the records. Furthermore, government agencies armed with court orders can also request marriage records before they become public records.
Family Court records can include marriage records and divorce records. These records contain the personal information of those involved, and their maintenance is critical should anyone involved wish to make changes. Because of this, both marriage and divorce records can be considered more difficult to locate and obtain than other public records and may not be available through government sources or third-party public record websites.
How to Find Oregon Marriage Records
Oregon marriage records are documents that show details and proof of marriages contracted in the state. They contain vital information such as the names of the two people involved in the recorded marriage, as well as where and when the ceremony was held. Some marriage records contain other salient details like marriage contracts, marriage applications, and parental consent affidavits.
The four types of marriage records available in Oregon vital records offices are marriage licenses, marriage certificates, marriage registers, and marriage records. These documents (including other vital records like divorce certificates in Oregon) are primarily confidential and do not become public records until a specific timeframe elapses. Unlike confidential marriage records, Oregon public marriage records do not have access restrictions.
How to Find Out if Someone is Married in Oregon
To find out if someone is married in Oregon, an individual can:
- Contact the county clerk's office that may have issued the marriage license. For example, the clerk's office in the county where the person of interest resides.
- Request a marriage record search in Oregon from the state vital statistics office (officially the Oregon Center for Health Statistics)
- Search earlier marriage records preserved by the Oregon State Archives.
- Search marriage information found in other non-government records, such as local newspapers, church registers, library collections, or third-party public records sites. For example, the Multnomah County Central Library maintains an Oregon Vital Records Marriage Index, which residents can access in person to find marriage records.
How to Check Marriage Status Online
Generally, the likelihood of verifying someone's marital status online depends on if a custodian provides an online marriage records database (or if the individual makes their marriage status public). While several Oregon vital records offices offer online ordering services to marriage record requesters, they do not typically maintain databases that a person may access to check marriage status online or find marriage records. Usually, interested persons must use offline methods (in person, mail, fax) to confirm a person's marital status through the Oregon vital records departments.
Nevertheless, if a marriage occurred more than 50 years ago, one can check marriage status online or verify basic marriage information with the Oregon Historical Records Index. This index can be searched with a spouse's name or marriage date. Available information includes:
- Confirmation that two people got married, i.e., the names of spouses and the marriage date
- The recording county
- The marriage record's file number (which can be used to obtain a copy from the Oregon State Archives)
What is Considered a Marriage Record in Oregon?
A marriage record is the complete documentation of a marital union contracted in Oregon. It includes the marriage application, marriage contract, and marriage return. The record contains the essential details in a marriage certificate, including the names of the parties named in the record as well as when and where the solemnization took place.
Oregon makes marriage records confidential for 50 years under ORS 432.350. During this period, a marriage record can be requested by the couple involved, their immediate family members, and attorneys. Government agencies can also request copies of this record with valid court orders.
Both government websites and organizations may offer divorce and marriage records. Similarly, third-party public record websites can also provide these types of records. But because third-party organizations are not operated or sponsored by the government, record availability may vary. Further, marriage and divorce records are considered highly private and are often sealed, meaning the availability of these types of records cannot be guaranteed.
How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Oregon
Getting a name change after marriage in Oregon begins with applying for a marriage license. When the marriage event is over, the party will receive a certificate which serves as the legal document for changing their name after marriage. They can also always contact the Oregon Vital Records Office to purchase copies of their marriage record for $25 each.
After receiving their certificate, the party will need to notify the State Security Administration (SSA) about the name change. Parties can officially change their name after marriage by completing a form and submitting a valid photo ID and a copy of their marriage certificate. The party must also perform an Oregon Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) name change. They can visit a local Oregon DMV office to complete an application form.
What is Considered a Marriage Certificate in Oregon?
A marriage certificate in Oregon is a legal document that proves a couple is legally married. It shows the full names of the couple, the date and location of the marriage ceremony. It is the most commonly used marriage record and required for a wide range of official purposes. After the ceremony is conducted, this document is signed by the officiant, and the original copy issued to the couple. This marriage record is sealed and inaccessible by the general public. However, Oregon allows immediate family members and attorneys of the couple to request for certified copies of the certificate.
How to Obtain a Marriage Certificate in Oregon
The Vital Records Office of the Oregon Center for Health Statistics maintains and issues copies of marriage certificates for the state. The requester must be one of the parties named on the certificate, an immediate family member, a legal guardian, legal representative of any of the named parties, or an authorized government agency. A legal guardian must provide proof of appointment as guardian. Requesters can obtain marriage certificates in Oregon by applying:
- Online
- Over the phone
- By mail
- In person
By Mail
To obtain a marriage certificate in Oregon by mail, start by completing a Marriage Record Order Form by providing the following details. Attach a copy of a current ID such as driver’s license, passport, tribal card, or military card. In the absence of these, the requester can also provide three out of these documents, as long as one shows their current residential address:
- Original copy of selective service card or military discharge paper
- Concealed weapon permit with photo
- Vehicle registration or title
- State hunting or fishing license
- Personalized check or savings account passbook
- US immigration or naturalization papers
- Monthly account statement not older than 30 days
- Recent pay stub not older than 30 days
- Recent utility bill not older than 30 days with a current address
- Company identification card
- Auto insurance policy
- Voter registration card
- Medical ID card
- Union membership card
- Valid food stamp
- Tax statement
- Official papers issued by the court which contain a requester’s date of birth
The Oregon Vital Records office charges $25 for the first copy of a marriage certificate and $25 for each additional copy that is requested at the same time. If the marriage date is unknown, requesters will pay $25 for a search spanning five years. Every additional year attracts an extra fee of $1.
Mail the completed application form, copy of acceptable identification, and fee (money order or check) to:
Oregon Vital Records
P.O. Box 14050
Portland, OR 97293
The Vital Records Office takes five to eight weeks to process requests received by regular mail.
However, it offers “rush delivery” which takes three to five business days to process requests. For rush delivery, send the request by priority, certified, or overnight mail. Enclose a prepaid pre-addressed overnight delivery envelope for the certificate to be sent through rush delivery.
Requests are also processed faster when fees are paid via money order. Fees paid through checks can delay the request by three weeks. Wrong or missing information on the order form can also lead to processing delays.
In-Person
To obtain a marriage certificate in person, the requester should visit this address with a completed Marriage Records Order Form:
Oregon Vital Records
800 NE Oregon Street
Suite 205
Portland, OR 97293
The requester must provide a Social Security Number in addition to the details required for mail requests. Fees are the same as for mail requests. However, in-person requests take a processing period of 30 minutes to one business day, depending on the information provided in the marriage records order form. If the record is not available on time, a requester may drop a mailing address where the record the Vital Records Office will deliver the requested copies.
Note: The Oregon Vital Records Office does not personally accept online orders for marriage certificates or requests over the phone. This task is outsourced to an authorized, third-party vendor. Details about placing an Oregon marriage certificate order online or via telephone are available on the Vital Records Office's website.
Besides the State Vital Records Office, individuals can also obtain marriage certificates in Oregon from the county clerk's office that issued a marriage license. Each clerk has specific ordering procedures, which are often published on the office's website.
If you have additional questions about how to find a marriage certificate in Oregon, one can call the state vital statistics office at (971) 673-1190 or an applicable clerk's office.
What is Considered a Marriage License in Oregon?
A marriage license is a document that every intending couple must have before they can be legally married. The document contains all the legal requirements for the solemnization of a union in Oregon. It includes the parental consent affidavit for any of the parties that are below the legal age of 18.
The county recorder will issue the marriage license to the intending couple when the requirements are met. This document also serves as an authorization for the officiant (religious minister or judge) to perform the marriage ceremony.
Oregon Formal Marriage Licenses
An Oregon formal marriage license is the conventional document issued to an intending couple seeking to get married in the state having fulfilled all the ensuing legal requirements. Following this license, the marriage ceremony will be performed by an authorized official, and a marriage certificate will be issued to the couple. The certificate will bear the names of the couple as well as the date and location of the ceremony. This license is the only type of marriage license issued and recognized in the State of Oregon.
How to Get a Marriage License in Oregon
Marriage licenses are issued by the Oregon county clerks where the marriages will take place. An intending couple must visit the county recorder's office when applying for a marriage license. Both parties must be present and provide the following information during the application process:
- Full names
- Birthplace (state or foreign country)
- Date of birth
- Age (a party that is 17 years old must present a consent affidavit)
- Gender
- Occupation
- Previous marital status
- Current address
- County of residence
- The legal name of parties after marriage
- Names of each party’s parent
- Birthplaces of parents
- Signatures of each party
Both parties must also provide valid photo IDs. For example, a driver's license. Dissolution of marriage records are not required for remarriages in Oregon, but a divorced spouse will have to provide their exact divorce date during the marriage license application process.
Marriage licenses issued in Oregon have 60-day expiry dates. The wedding ceremony must be conducted between the “license effective” and “license expiry” dates. Any wedding that is conducted outside of the 60-day deadline is invalid. Individuals with expired licenses must reapply for new marriage licenses before getting married. The cost of a marriage license differs across counties.
Oregon Common-Law Marriage Licenses
Common-law marriage licenses are issued to couples who seek to be lawfully married without meeting the official requirements of formal marriage. Although such couples will be recognized in society as married, they will not be issued marriage certificates. Nonetheless, any of the parties can file for divorce through the normal legal process and have dissolution of marriage records produced after the process.
For a couple to be eligible to apply for this marriage license, both parties must be at least 18 years. Also, they should have been living together for an extended period before the application. However, Oregon stopped issuing common-law marriage licenses on January 1, 1996. As such, the state does not recognize any common-law marriage contracted on or after this date.
Are Prenups Public Records in Oregon?
No. Prenuptial agreements (informally called "prenups") are not subject to the Oregon Public Records Law and, thus, are not open to the public. The primary requirement for open access in Oregon is that a record be "prepared, owned, used, or retained" by a state office or political subdivision while executing its official functions. This excludes prenuptial agreements (also called premarital agreements in Oregon), which are private, legal agreements or contracts entered into by intending couples to set forth property and assets division after a dissolution of marriage or death. Oregon's prenuptial agreement laws are outlined in ORS 108.700 to 108.740.
